Non-zionists Enlist in New York Drive for United Palestine Appeal

January 15, 1929

Plans for enlisting the cooperation of non-Zionists in this year’s United Palestine Appeal drive in New York City were formulated at a conference of Reform congregations of the West Side and Yorkville sections of this city held at the Ambassador Hotel Sunday. Judge Otto A. Rosalsky, chairman of the U. P. A. for Greater New York, presided.

Following the announcement of Mr. Warburg’s $50,000 contribution to the United Palestine Appeal, a telegram from Lieut.-Governor Herbert H. Lehman was read in which he declared that the will “be glad to cooperate in working out this program.” A telegram was also read from Congressman Sol Bloom.

Committees to organize the residents of West Side and Yorkville were named. Contributions amounting to $18,000 were announced including $2,000 from Samuel Rosoff, $2,500 from John Grossberg, I. D. Morrison $5,000. A. Liebovitz $6,500.

Among the speakers at the meeting were Dr. Bernard Drachman, Rabbi Gabriel Schulman, Dr. Joseph Silverman, Isidore D. Morrison, Samuel Rosoff, head of the Rosoff Subway Construction Company and Rev. Dr. Hunt, Director of Americans Good will Union.

Rabbi Joseph Silverman recounted the growth of Zionism in America in the last thirty-five years and Mr. Morrison contrasted Zionism today with that of thirty-one years ago, when he was elected honorary secretary of the Federation of American Zionists at a meeting at Pacific Hall, East Broadway. He pointed out the progress that the movement has made.

Dr. Hunt declared that he was preparing to launch a campaign among Christians to secure founds to buy land in Palestine, which would then be given to Jews “as part payment of the tremendous debt which Chrisfianity and the world owes to the Jews.”

In an account of what has taken place in Palestine in the last ten years, Dr. I. M. Rubinow, Executive Director of the United Palestine Appeal, declared that “in reality a paltry sum had been invested in Palestine, but the results were very large and unusually great.” He declared that the reconstruction of Palestine is now merely a matter of patience and money.